Saturday, March 07, 2015

wikipedia | As Hillel is funded by donations, it is usually free for an
interested student to participate in their activities. However, as set
by International Hillel Policy, there are restrictions on the services,
topics of discussions, and events that can be held.[14]
These restrictions focus mainly on Zionism, where Hillel takes a firm
stance in not promoting certain types of views on Israel, such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign.[15]
Hillel's strategy, as redefined in 2006, explicitly set a goal to
"inspire every Jewish student to make an enduring commitment to Jewish
life". To be effective, Hillel activities vary from campus to campus,
with an emphasis on responding to the needs of participating students.
To reach a larger audience, campus Hillel foundations struggle to create
a pluralistic, inclusive environment that still remains distinctively
Jewish. To do so, the national foundation organizes trips to Israel,[16] places service fellows at the campus foundations,[17] creates a guide to Jewish student life,[18] and leads advocacy work on Jewish and Israeli issues,[19] as well as providing some financial support to its campus foundations.

Hillel chapters regularly offer Shabbat services. Hillel is also dedicated to social activism,
fundraising, and philanthropy for charitable causes. These activities
are usually led on the local campus level, but many campuses participate
in alternative spring break trips dedicated to service, a Yom Kippur Fast Action Campaign, and the OxfamFair Trade Coffee
Campaign, as well as more traditional local service projects at soup
kitchens, homeless shelters, and Jewish community organizations.

Social justice

Since 2010, Hillel's campus initiative at the University of Washington, Freedom Shabbat, has highlighted the problem of modern-day slavery during the holiday of Passover, a time when Jews remember their escape from slavery in Egypt.[20][21]

Hillel also organizes alternative break trips for students across the
globe, where students participate in short-term service projects
dealing with a range of issues, from poverty to food justice. They have
partnered with the non-profit organization City Year to create civic engagement spring breaks for students.[22]